diff --git a/io_scene_obj/import_obj.py b/io_scene_obj/import_obj.py
index a8e08872616720ce8e9216d5b977d86ffffc831b..a065f7e1c1cc088d1130f5b06d57dfcc23bd41d3 100644
--- a/io_scene_obj/import_obj.py
+++ b/io_scene_obj/import_obj.py
@@ -219,6 +219,9 @@ def create_materials(filepath, relpath,
             if do_reflection:
                 if "metallic" not in context_material_vars:
                     context_mat_wrap.metallic = 1.0
+            else:
+                # since we are (ab)using ambient term for metallic (which can be non-zero)
+                context_mat_wrap.metallic = 0.0
 
             if do_transparency:
                 if "ior" not in context_material_vars: